For the third straight year the Phoenix Outlaws entered the State championship game looking to make amense for last seasons defeat at the hands of the Ravens. The Phoenix Phantoms came into the game after a big win over the defending champ Ravens to lock in the showdown with the Outlaws. They came into the game much in the same way the Outlaws did in 2012 with all their losses being close ones, so we knew not to take them lightly! Tim Johnson, his family, and the GFL staff put on a great show for the players and fans. The first half was a lot of back and forth, but eventually the Outlaws would break through scoring first on a Ruben Gammage pass from Toney Aguilera so the score at halftime was 6-0 Outlaws. The second half would turn out to be just a physical as the first. The Phantoms would get on the board next when Derrick "stretch" Parahm would have some big catches to get them down to the one yard line. Phantom QB Isaac Johnson would punch it in and after Clarence Adams kicked the extra point, they had the lead 7-6. The next drive the Outlaws came back strong moving the ball right down the field with big runs by Laz Avila, and runningback T.J. Smith would seal the drive running it in from 27 yards out. After Phil Insalaco's extra point the Outlaws regained the lead 13-7 at the end of three. In the fourth quarter, the Outlaws Laz Avila once again scored a touchdown, this time from 4 yards out to give the squad it's first comfortable led at 19-7. Or so we thought! The Phantoms Parham struck quickly scoring from 52 yards out and once again the battle was on with the score now at 19-13. The Outlaws used up the last four and a half minutes. A roughing the kicker penalty on the Phantoms sealed the deal as the Outlaws knelt down for the championship victory! The Outlaws were lead on defense by Gary Stevenson with 6 tackles followed my Tyson Muse with 5.On the night the Outlaws defense recorded 4 sacks, two by Austyn Hull with the other two coming from Tracy Peoples and Aaron O'Neal. Billy Hammer had an interception that he returned 41 yards and Hull forced a fumble and recovered it. All in all it was a complete game by the Outlaws giving them their second championship in three years. A big hats off to the Phoenix Phantoms who fought and showed class all night long. They not only showed that they belonged, but that we could have this same battle in multiple championship games!